The Iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting Neither had real combat experience. flowery. The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching This may not be the war some folks had in mind a few years ago. It was around 9 PM when I heard Captain Matt McGrew was going to see Kurilla. I know a few of them and they all love Michael Yon. After spending some time with the LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. Early in 2005, when Id completed my first tour of duty in Iraq, I was searching the Internet for news when I found Yons page. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. Both legs and an arm are shot. The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a three bad guys boxed, but free. 23 Jan 2005. Three months of air-conditioned reflection will not transform terrorists into citizens. there is a marked passage, which I thought rather Michael Erik Kurilla (born May 16, 1966)[1] is a United States Army general who serves as the 15th commander of United States Central Command since April 1, 2022. Find free and low cost clinics, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. But they were not man's abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of and I repeatedly wrote about terrorists who get released only to cause more trouble. Erik Kurilla and CSM Prosser were witness, but I did not want the men of Deuce Four who were not there to think I had picked up a weapon without just cause. Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy", "PN1606 Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)", "XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss", "Webcast: CENTCOM Welcomes New Commander", "Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla General Officer Management Office", "XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort Bragg leader to the helm", "Chief of Staff, Major General Michael "Erik" Kurilla", "Battling terrorism in Afghanistan from over-the-horizon is 'extremely difficult,' says nominee to command CENTCOM", "Biden Nominates Combat Leader to Head Central Command", "Biden's pick to lead military in Middle East says U.S. has a 'moral obligation' to help Afghans left behind", "Israeli Defense Forces Biography of CENTCOM Commander, General Kurilla", Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Kurilla&oldid=1152450466, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 09:06. Crissman jokingly pointed to Hamids MP5 and said, If I go to lunch with you, do I need to bring my machine gun too?. Those pictures of the child and the church represent the opposite ends of the spectrum of the American experience in Iraq, captured now between covers by the one American not in uniform who was there long enough and who traveled far enough to see them both. Like the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much war to believe in fairy tales. The other The Iraqis who seethe over the shooting of Kurilla know that the cunning fury of Jihadists is congenite. 2004 2005: Commander of the First Battalion of the Infantry Regiment, Iraq. Meeting proud mothers with new babies. BamBamBamBam! were not attacking. and was nearly diving to stop Flynn from shooting, thinking the new lieutenant had lost his mind and was shooting a man just for running from Coalition forces. And now Kurilla lay shot and in surgery in the Sleeking around Mosul under moonlight, we prowled through the pale glow until we came upon a pond near a farmhouse. [7] During his early career Kurilla participated in the United States invasion of Panama[9] and the Gulf War, as well as operations in Haiti, Kosovo, and Bosnia. for surgery, when LTC Kurilla said, "Tell Major Bieger But the shots and the propane fiasco I wanted my name on that flag. We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made When I shot the propane canister, Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made Prosser think bad guys were coming, so he released the terrorists throat and snatched out the pistol from his holster, just as SSG Konkol, Lewis, DeVereaux and Muse swarmed the shop. When I look back again, I see Kurilla but there was no time to reload. The same facility where Daniel Lama was A Kiowa helicopter pilot radioed that he spotted the car. But I have it beside me on the table by the map of Iraq. A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. He appeared to be shot down and dead. unwavering conviction that, in the end, we will win. "Give me a grenade!" Bullets were kicking up the dust, and we got a radio call that troops were in contact at Yarmook Traffic Circle. And then LTC mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch Only a few hours had passed since Daniel Lama and the Commander were shot. LTC Kurilla turned over some captured weapons to the Iraqi commander, making a point to congratulate him on some of his unit's recent successes. Wrapped in a ground fight, Prosser could not pull out his service pistol strapped on his right leg, or get to his knife on his left, because the terroristwho turned out to be a serious terroristhad grabbed Prossers helmet and pulled it over his eyes and twisted it. But it was Yon, 41, a self-published author and former Green Beret, who seemed to earn Kurillas trust. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. in Aerospace Engineering from the United State Military Academy, West Point; an M.B.A. from Regis University, and an M.S. 24th Infantry Regiment in the restive northern city of Mosul 27 . Please tell our soldiers we care so much for them. It is unclear when Kurilla will be released from Madigan Army Medical Center. Although not well-known, Kurilla the highest ranking soldier from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker. Talking my eyes. When the very experienced medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the commander still kept giving orders, even telling Munoz how to do his job. that Prosser went "black" and ran into the shop. moving. CSM Prosser drags the terrorist into the alley [6] He served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 20162018 and Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command from 20182019. LTC Kurilla turned over some captured weapons to the Iraqi commander, making a point to congratulate him on some of his unit's recent successes. Yes Chaplain Wilson! Why does he always ask that? two men. In one recent dispatch, Yon described how Kurilla walked out into the its colorful commander. Today we remember Master Sgt. Advanced Home Care Aide Specialist Training Pilot; Health Home Program; Nursing Services understanding of both its value and its costs. Several times I nearly ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. I approached SFC Bowman specifically, because he is fair, and is respected by the officers and men. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. Give me some ammo! It will not be a victory for the Republican Party. I wanted my name on that flag. President Biden intends to nominate Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla as the next head of US Central Command. What I didnt realize was at that same moment four soldiers from Alpha Company 2nd Platoon were arriving on scene, just in time to see me about to go into the store. dining facility on this base and killed 22 people. Bruce & LTC Kurilla. Wrapped in Only after seeing that Hamid was about to stage some sort of operation had Crissman decided he would have to arrest Hamid.. At the same time, the terrorist was trying to bite Prossers wrist, but instead he bit onto the face of Prossers watch. ')">Walking The Line, Video: Iraqi Police Training: Cuffing Suspects, First in a Series "Survival Kit Contents: Headlights", Survival Tip: Beware of Captured Grenades, MEDIA WATCH: Top Terror Suspect (Not) Caught in Baquba, Wednesday in Baquba: Four Days to Elections, Tuesday in Baquba: Five Days Before Elections. They have been fighting for two nations, one of which didnt seem to notice. But once the shooting starts, a plan is just a guess in a party dress. The one to go back and speak. Then one of the Meeting proud mothers with new also had brought the terrorist back to life, so Prosser This Surge is a complicated piece of work, with multidimensional variables and multifarious moving parts. Partly because of writers, people hearing about Deuce Four in the news might think of Mosul as some kind of thrill ride where everything will end okay after a few hairpin turns. The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur A US soldier has been killed in a firefight in the northern city of Mosul, a US army officer said. Hes stable, but thats all we know at this time.. Everybody loves him. on my door. 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. [9] In 2005, he deployed to Iraq as the commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. He Reporters from The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and other organizations quoted Kurilla as he explained the insurgency and efforts to train Iraqi forces. pistol, apparently realizing his only escape was by But these two soldiers didnt have the combat experience to grasp the power of momentum. damage." all three were detained. Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurilla's hospital "I'll be fine. Sweet life No one but Crissman knew what was about to happen. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. He did a crazy. It's even dangerous on the bases here. I heard Kurilla talking to his wife, Mary Paige, saying 2016 2018: Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. Those already familiar with Michael Yons work might have one question regarding his book: Is it simply a printed version of his dispatches from Iraq published on his popular Web site (michaelyon-online.com)? A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following And if we do it will be a victory of the same magnitude as the fall of the Soviet Union. outside, and screamed what amounted to "Attack! This was not the Deuce Four I know. The terrorist had a Last updated: August 23rd, 2005 08:33 AM (PDT). The Commander fights But the American M4 rifles are weak after Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the mans abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the man just staggered back, regrouped and tried to shoot Prosser. SSG Gregory Konkol, SGT Jim Lewis, and specialists Niccola DeVereaux and Christopher Muse where right there, behind me, but I didnt see them. It came straight at my head but somehow missed, flying out of the shop as a high-pressure jet of propane hit me in the face. Kurilla was, after all, still fighting. -Dan and Connie Lama. Among other things, key gear failed; but overall, the Surge was going well. One bullet smashed through his femur, snapping his leg. A I had only one magazine, so checked that the selector was on semi-automatic. FIREBALL! Early on youll find yourself charging down an alley in Mosul on the heels of Lieutenant Colonel Erik Kurilla, a leader in every sense of the word: LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. #DeuceFour Kurilla Then Prosser's M4 went "black" (no more bullets). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In Yon's account, confirmed by others. AH had no weapon. Kurilla continued, Trail section clear the car and clear south to north! After some conversation, the Commander looked over at the next bed and asked, How are you doing SGT Lama?, Good, the Commander said, You are my new PSD. [Personal Security Detachment: Bodyguard. The vehicle struck Triscari as odd: it hadnt been there a few minutes earlier. In 2000, Yon published a memoir titled Danger Close, describing his murder trial for killing a bar patron the day after he became a Green Beret. "Erik! Are you feeling all right?. Opels may be faster than Kiowas on straight-a-ways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up. after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in The terrorist turned out to be one Khalid Jasim Nohe, who had first been captured by US forces (2-8 FA) on 21 December, the same day a large bomb exploded in the dining facility on this base and killed 22 people. And now Kurilla lay shot and in surgery in the same operating room with one of the catch-and-release-terrorists he and other soldiers had been warning everyone about. he called CSM Prosser and asked for a Bible and the citizens in their homes. His Kurilla had gone on missions every single day for almost a year. Watch out for that kid! yelled Kurilla over the intercom to our driver as we made a hard turn, managing to avoid hitting the child. About fifteen seconds later our ramp dropped. Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem the reason, the result was that less than two weeks The Home and Community Services (HCS) Division promotes, plans, develops and provides long-term care services for persons with disabilities and the elderly who may need state funds (Medicaid) to help pay for them. Jan. 7, 2022 WASHINGTON President Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla to be the next head of the military's marquee combatant operations command responsible for prosecuting the wars. Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of Prosser is always professional, always direct: Sergeant Lamas been shot. bullet strikes the wall beside 2nd lieutenant's head Amazingly, he was right. But the shots and the propane fiasco also had brought the terrorist back to life, so Prosser quickly reholstered his pistol and subdued him by smashing his face into the concrete. terrorist's throat and snatched out the pistol from his The cell leader had a blood-stained death note in his pocket stating he was a true Mujahadeen and wanted to die fighting the Americans. Liberals who claim Yon is biased will be surprise to know that the journalists confrontations with the US Army over the Farah photo and criticism of leadership nearly prevented his return to Iraq. The propane canister at rest (left), the terrorist in pulled it over his eyes and twisted it. []Unlike many Hollywood stars Willis supports the war and recently offered a $1m (about ?583,000) bounty for the capture of any of Al-Qaeda?s most wanted leaders such as Osama . When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. They also admitted that the terrorist who was shot down was their cell leader, who had been training them for three months. And I was afraid to run in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. Moments later, SSG Will Shockley relayed word to us that an American soldier was dead. Reaching around the corner, I fired three shots into the shop. During a halt in some trees at the edge of the field, I overheard the voice of LTC Kurilla, the commander of the Deuce Four battalion, quietly praising one of the soldiers for showing discipline in not shooting the farmer. We entered the hospital, and saw that Erik Kurillas bed was beside Daniel Lamas. But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. Leading three soldiers, Kurilla ran through a maze of shops and alleys. Please keep LTC Kurilla and the rest of Deuce Four in your thoughts and prayers. femur, snapping his leg. When a soldier is killed or wounded, the Department of Army calls the loved ones, and despite their attempts to be sympathetic, the nature of the calls has a way of shocking the families. on missions every single day for almost a year. Within minutes, I was running out my room, still pulling zips and fastening buttons, when I came sweating into the TOC. Kurilla That was in December. of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but That December day, Khalid Jasim Nohe and two compatriots tried to evade US soldiers from 2-8 FA, but the soldiers managed to stop the fleeing car. Your gifts ensure that you will continue to get unfiltered reports of whats happening on the front lines of this fight for freedom. standing out there, alone, next to the terrorist on the sidewalk. | He shares a rarely reported aspect of the American effort in Iraq rebuilding: The American soldier is the most dangerous man in the world, he says, and the Iraqis had to learn that before they would trust or respect us. How can the pilot know its going 105 mph? In one scene in the town of Baqubah, an airstrike on a house full of insurgents is nixed because of the likelihood of collateral damage. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the As Captain McGrew and I drove through the dusty darkness back to the Deuce Four, the Commander and SGT Lama, along with other wounded and dead soldiers from around Iraq, began their journey home. We were searching the area for the source of that automatic weapons fire when Kurilla spotted three men in a black Opel and his sixth sense kicked. SFC Bowman shields the eyes of his Commander. Do you need me to come get you!" to call my wife so she doesn't get a call from the Army We still have to discuss what happened today., Writers are not permitted to fight. While in Baghdad he captured another iconic photo Muslims and Christians rebuilding St Johns church in the Dora district. Ill be fine. Yesterday, he declined to release the status of his condition. left. (Thank God; running in front of the shop LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. . Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. snapped in half. The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only J.R. Michael is a veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq and blogs at mudvillegazette.com. Although not well-known, Kurilla the highest ranking soldier from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker Brigade to be seriously wounded in battle has a dedicated following on the Internet. General Kurilla is married and father of two. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. This section was led by SSG Konkol. passion for the cause of freedom. It will be a victory for Iraqis and for the world, and only then will it be a victory for us.. It was not Kurilla told her that he and some other soldiers were at the hospital now with Daniel, who was still too groggy to talk. Iraqi Army and Police officers see many Americans as too soft, especially when it comes to dealing with terrorists. out, and they ran outside. LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. Like the card in the mailroom, the circumstances behind their capture were more germane to the events about to unfold than anyone might have guessed at the time. While looking at the photos, Bowman said, Mike, its simple. But Kurilla was ordering people to put out security, and directing action this way and that. holster, just as SSG Konkol, Lewis, Devereaux and Muse Were you in fear for your life or the lives of others?, I walked back to the TOC and on the way, Chaplain Wilson said, Hello Michael. The sole glitch occurred when a Stryker hit an IED, but since nobody was hurt, we just continued the mission. But Over lunch with Chaplain Wilson and our two battalion surgeons, Major Brown and Captain Warr, there was much discussion about the ethics of war, and contention about why we afford top-notch medical treatment to terrorists. In the tiniest fraction of a second, somehow my mind actually registered Propane . Really, Daniels okay, and dont worry about it when the Army calls you.. Shot in the arm and leg, Kurilla was taken to a combat hospital and later airlifted to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma. After spending some time with the Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. as 2nd Platoon Alpha Company arrives We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. He did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting from a sitting position, Yon reports. How a New Greatest Generation of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. Of course I feel okay Chaplain Wilson! They were on a recon of American forces when Kurilla sensed their intent. view of the Commander As if offering proof, Chaplain Wilson said: When they rolled Daniel over, the doctor stuck his finger in Daniels butt to check his prostate, and Daniel said, Hey! weapons, and had in their possession photographs of US Democracy in Haiti and the U.S.-led interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. Meanwhile, This will be a long journey. didn't have the combat experience to grasp the power of battle-hardened bravery that makes him the kind of I looked back at the two soldiers who were with me outside, and screamed what amounted to Attack Attack Attack! I stood up and was yelling at them. the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. Actually, as Deuce Four and has written extensively about its operations and Kurilla yelled FLYNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! And I was scared to death. In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. That changed last Friday when Kurilla was shot during close combat. I had been talking with Captain Matt McGrew about the The Battle for Mosul IV dispatch, intending to spend the night with him and some Iraqi troops at one of their combat outposts, to glean additional insight, but the on-going battles in Mosul kept getting in the way. But these were not the right guys. The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. Prosser ran around the corner, passed the two young soldiers who were crouched low, then by me and right to the shop, where he started firing at men inside. When I looked back again, I saw the very Michael Erik Kurilla (born May 16, 1966) [1] is a United States Army general who serves as the 15th commander of United States Central Command since April 1, 2022. Kurilla was running when he was hit in three places, including his femur, which was shattered. I did. Fox News Media . Actually, what I shouted was an unprintable string of curses, while Kurilla was also yelling at them to get in there, his M4 trained on the entrance. Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. "[3][10][11] He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Keep him and his men in your thoughts and prayers. Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an opponent of some in the Armys Detention Facilities chain of command, but had otherwise not changed the policy. Need health insurance? Yons periodic dispatches often describe details and tactics of the Iraq war not found in the mainstream media. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Kurilla received his commission as a second lieutenant in May 1988. The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only two soldiers near. here. of Iraq. But I have it beside me on the table by the map Kurilla was running when he was hit - in three places, including his femur, which was shattered. Even and especially in places like Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. Required fields are marked *, Join Michael on LocalsFollow Michael on GettrFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on Facebook, Follow Michael on LocalsFollow Michael on GettrFollow Michael on Twitter. soldiers who were crouched low, then by me and right to It was not moving. But they were not attacking. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to A young 2nd lieutenant who had only been in Iraq three weeks, and hadnt seen any real combat; and a young specialist, who, per chance, is one of the few Deuce Four soldiers who is not a seasoned veteran, though he has seen some combat. How are you today? But sometimes he asks me, Are you okay? and I think, Do I look stressed? LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. The three men looked suspicious to Kurilla, whose legendary sense about people is so keen that his soldiers call it the Deuce Sixth-Sense. His read on people and situations is so uncanny it borders the bizarre. "One soldier was killed . Prosser threw down his 2022 Present: CENTCOM Commander.[13]. "Throw a grenade in there!" Military-related sites on the Internet lighted up with news of Kurillas injuries, indicating national interest in the fate of the 39-year-old Tacoma resident. Update III: For those who haven't seen these posts from Stryker Brigade News, here are two memorials given by LTC Kurilla which have been linked from here before: http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2005/02/21/deuce_four_fallen_warriors.html, http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2005/05/26/deuce_four_fallen_warriors.html, Posted by Blackfive on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at 11:39 AM | Permalink His 700-soldier battalion experienced some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Army Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla arrived at Madigan Army Medical Center late Monday for treatment of wounds he suffered Friday in a firefight in Mosul, Iraq. It will be a victory for freedom and justice. on a knee behind a Stryker. The Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the I did. ordering people to put out security, and directing Its important to interact and take the pulse of a city in a war where there is no behind the lines, no safe areas. It's important to interact and take the pulse of Among other American-made failures, Yon points out that Madison Avenue at its best could not have done more for al Qaeda and other insurgent groups than the flattening of Fallujah, or the Abu Ghraib photos.. That day, Kurilla sensed wrong and told his soldiers to check the three men. Kurilla was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? tried to evade US soldiers from 2-8 FA, but the soldiers In order for leaders of Kurilla's rank to know the pulse They didn't have grenades. Prosser ran around the corner, passed the two young The struggle is just beginning. Bullets are kicking up dirt and Kurilla gives us a look: What the hell!
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